Cistern-filter.



Patented Mayl5, I900.

G. BITTER. GISTERN FILTER. (Application filed J's n. 27,1900.)

(No Model.)

I UNrrnn STATES PATENT QFFICE.

GEORGE BITTER, OF PINOKNEYVILLE, ILLINOIS.

ClSTERN-FILTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,530, dated May 15,1900.

Application filed January 2'7, 1900. Serial No. 3,014. (No model) To allwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE BITTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pinckneyville, in the county of Perry and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Separators forEliminating Suspended Impurities from Oistern-lVaters, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in devices for separatingimpurities held in suspension in rain-water before the latter is storedin the cistern designed to receive it.

The invention consists in the novel arrangement and combination of partsmore fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dwelling, showing ageneral application of my invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof my device. Fig. 3 is a mid dle vertical section of the device, thedownspout and overflow thereof being omitted; and Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the separator proper.

The object of my invention is to construct a simple device which may beattached to the down-spout of an ordinary dwelling and which willmechanically separate all solid particles held in suspension fromrain-water before the same is delivered into the cistern in cases whererain-water is used for drinking and domestic purposes generally. Indetail the device may be described as follows:

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a conical plate or separator,from the apex of which is disposed a spiral-shaped Wall 2, ter minatingat a convenient point adjacent to the edge of said cone. Leading fromthe upper surface of said cone and projecting downward a suitabledistance beyond the edge is a waste-spout 3, the latter being located toone side of a limiting or intercepting wall 4, which extends from thelower continuation of the wall 2 to the outerbounding-wall 5 of theconical separator. The wall 5 of course has a discharge-opening leadingto the spout 3 aforesaid, and the bottom of the spiral passage orraceway formed by the wall 2 is provided with openings or punctures 11for the escape of the washed water, as presently to be seen. The cone 1is surmounted by a conical hood 6, having a depending rim 7 fittingsnugly within the wall 5, the top of the hood having a flaring mouth 8to receive the down-spout 9, the overflow 10 being preferably inproximity to the spout 3. The cone 1 is supported on and coupled to apreferably filtering-receptacle 12, the rim 5 of the sep'a rator beingsnugly received by the upper end of the latter. Leading from the bottom13 of the receptacle 12 and communicating with the interior thereofthrough an opening 14, of such bottom is a discharge-pipe 15, the latterleading direct to the cistern 20. Resting on the bottom 13 is apreferably wire-gauze filter or plate 16, the latter being supportedslightly above such bottom by the legs 17. The receptacle is providedwith a flaring supporting-base 18, the chamber of the receptacle beingpreferably filled with sand 19.

The operation of the device is as follows: As the rain-water descendsthrough the downspout 9 it isimmediately received by the spiral passageor raceway formed by the wall 2, the water having thereby impartedthereto a spiral motion, the centrifugal action of which throws thesolid particles held suspended in the water against the inner surfacesof the spiral wall, the said particles being finally crowded along andforced against the intercepting wall 4, contiguous to the spout 3,through which they are discharged with a small percentage of the water,the bulk of the latter, washed or cleared of its impurities, beingforced through the perforations 11 into the receptacle 12, where it isfinally and fully filtered and escapes in a perfectly-clean conditionthrough the pipe 15 into the cistern.

The device eliminates all manner of suspended impurities and rubbish andmay be used in connection with a receptacle or tank not provided with afilter. The device too is susceptible of minor changes without departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A separatorcomprising a perforated plate, a spiral raceway formed thereon in thepath of the perforations, and having its point of beginning atsubstantially the middle of the plate, and ending at the outer edge ofthe plate, means for forcing the water through said raceway, anddelivering the suspended impurities at a point beyond the raceway,substantially as set forth.

2. A separator comprising a perforated plate, a spiral raceway formedabout said perforations, means for forcing the water through saidraceway, and discharging the suspended impurities at a point beyond theraceway, substantially as set forth.

3. A separator comprising a plate having.

inclined walls, a spiral raceway having a perforate bottom formedthereon, a hood for said plate, and means for connecting the hood to asource of water-supply, substantially asset forth.

4. A separator comprising a conical plate, an outer bounding-wall, aspiral wall disposed from the apex of the cone and leading down to theedge of the cone and against the bounding-wall, thereby forming a spiralraceway about the cone, perforations formed in the cone at the base ofthe raceway, a waste-spout at the outer limit of the raceway, and meansfor forcing the water through said raceway, the parts operatingsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A separator com prising a conical plate,

' an outer bounding-wall, a spiral raceway having a perforate bottomdisposed along the outer surface of the cone, an intercepting-wall atthe outer end of the raceway, a waste-spout adjacent to saidlimitingwall and leading from said bounding-wall, ahoodcovering saidconical plate, a mouth formed in the hood at a point opposite the apexof the cone, whereby water entering the raceway through said month hasimparted thereto a rotary motion, the centrifugal force of which forcesthe suspended impurities against the walls of the raceway and finallyout through the waste-

